Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandroković met during his visit to the Republic of Austria on Tuesday, 12 July 2011 with representatives of the Burgenland Croats in Eisenstadt (Željezno)

Minister Jandroković extended greetings from Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and expressed gratitude to the Burgenland Croats, who managed to preserve their national identity and the Croatian language

Minister Jandroković extended greetings from Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and expressed gratitude to the Burgenland Croats, who managed to preserve their national identity and the Croatian language over five centuries of life in Austria. He also acknowledged them as one of the most organised Croatian minorities, who became an important part of both Croatian and Austrian culture and thereby contributed significantly to building the traditionally excellent and friendly relations between the two states.

Precisely due to such relations Austria was one of the key states in the adoption of major decisions on the path of Croatia's integration into the European Union, from the decision on starting negotiations with the EU to the recent decision on their conclusion in late June this year, minister Jandroković said. Representatives of the Burgenland Croats congratulated the Croatian Government on the great foreign policy success and expressed pride that their ancient homeland will soon become part of the European Union.

Stating that the preservation and improvement of the protection and position of all Croats outside the Republic of Croatia, including the Croatian minority in Burgenland, is the constitutional obligation and a vital interest of the Republic of Croatia, the minister stressed that Croatia places special emphasis on this matter in all official contacts with the Austrian Government, and financial support is also granted to individual projects of the Croatian minorities each year.

The minister recalled that the discussion on the recently adopted amendments to the Austrian Law on topographic signs and the official language was followed with great interest. He found it encouraging that the Constitutional Committee issued a statement guaranteeing that the novelties will not impact the acquired rights of the Croatian national minority in Austria. The minister also expressed his belief that, in light of the above, new legislation on minorities to be adopted in the near future will continue to protect the acquired rights of the Croatian national minority in Austria.

The minister informed his hosts on the activities related to the adoption of the Strategy and the Act on the relations of the Republic of Croatia with Croats outside the Republic of Croatia and the novelties it introduces. He highlighted that the Strategy and the Act represent the framework for full regulation of the relations in this field, and will reflect the overall policy towards Croats outside the homeland. The minister expressed his belief that this will also contribute to the protection and strengthening of the position of Croats worldwide.

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